Tilting cushion structure



Dec. 21, 1948. KQIHORNER ETAL 2,456,874

TILTING CUSHION STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 19, 1946 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 2,456,874 TILTING CUSHION STRUCTURE Kenneth K. Horner, Chicago, and Laurence W.

Hiltman, Palos Karpen & Bros, of Illinois Heights, 111.,

Chicago, 111.,

assignors to a corporation Application January 19, 1946,.Serial No. 64 2308 2 Claims. (Cl. 155-420) This invention relates to a tilting cushion structure for bus, railway, and other types of seats to which the invention is applicable.

An object of the invention is to provide means for permitting the ready tilting of a seat by merely raising the back portion of the seat to the desired point. A further object is to provide means for tilting a seat cushion whereby the latching means for elevating it in stepped positions may be rendered inoperative to restore the cushion to its initial position and the latching means to its operative position. Yet another object is to provide a cushion and back structure with cooperating means whereby guide and link means limit the angular separation of the cushion and back, while at the same time providing means for supporting the rear portion of the cushion at desired points of elevation. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side view in elevation of a seat structures embodying our invensectional view of tilting mechanism embodying our invention; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mechanism at the upper limit of its movement; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the tilting mechanism in a releasing stage near the lower limit of its movement; and Fig. 5, a top plan view taken at line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given, A designates a seat base; B, a frame carried thereby; C, a back carried by the frame B; and D, a cushion carried by frame B.

The seat structure may be of any suitable type or construction. In the illustration given, A designates a base of the usual type carrying a frame structure B. The frame structure B may be of any suitable material or of construction. It may be permanently anchored upon the base A or mounted thereon for a turning movement through an angle of 180 or more. Since such structures are well known, a detailed description is believed unnecessary.

Supported upon frame B is a back C, which also may be of any suitable materials or form of construction. The present invention may be employed with any type of seat back.

The cushion D may be of the usual type or of any suitable type. It ordinarily consists of a core member formed of springs or a porous rubber body, hair, etc., mounted upon a frame structure and covered by a fabric body. It will be undertheir upper side by an integral web stood that any type of seat may be employed with the present invention.

In the illustration given, the seat back C is provided with a bracket member it which is provided with inwardly-extending flanges H, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The lower ends of flanges H are provided with pins l2 connecting the flanges to a guide link 13 having an arcuate slot Hi therein. The plate II] is provided with a plurality of recesses l5 which may extend partly or entirely through the plate. In the illustration given, the recesses I5 are formed by cutting away spaced portions of the plate.

The upper end of the bracket member ii] is provided with an inwardly-extending shoulder l6, and'the lower portion of bracket Ill is provided with an inwardly-extending release arm I! The cushion D is provided with a frame member 18 to which is secured a bracket H! by means of rivets 20. The bracket member I9 is provided with integral depending side members 2! perforated at their rear to receive a pin 22 which extends also through the arcuate slots M of the members [3. The side walls are connected at 23 through which the rivets 20 extend.

At the forward end of the side flanges 2| of bracket I9 is a pivot pin 24 which secures a latch member 25 between the, side walls 2i. The latch member 25 is provided with a downwardly-inclined central web 26 adapted to engage the recesses l5 of bracket l0, and is also provided with a latching recess 21 in the rear portion thereof.

A spring member 28 is secured to the web 23 of bracket ill by rivets 29, and is eq 'pped with a downwardlyand forwardly-extending portion 30 terminating in a nose 3!.

The cushion D may be pivotally secured at its forward end'upon the supporting frame B, as indicated in Fig. 1. In raising the cushion, the rear portion of the cushion D is grasped by the hands and raised to effect the elevation of the rear portion of the structure D. It is not necessary for the occupant to vacate the chair while making the adjustment. He may merely draw the rear portion of the structure D upwardly while still sitting on the cushion, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Operation In the operation of the structure, assuming that the cushion is in its lowermost position, the operator merely raises the rear portion of the cushion, and the latch 25, which is normally urged outwardly toward the bracket 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, slips into one of the recesses 15. The cushion will be supported in the above position by the parts as described. If it is desired to raise the cushion still further, the operabracket I is provided, and it will be understood that the bracket i0 may have any desired number cushion nears its initial position, the latch member engages the releasing shoulder or arm I1 of bracket l0, and the member 25 is swung outwardly and away from the spring 28 so that the cam head 3! is released from the operative latching position.

In all of the foregoing movements, the cushion guided in its tilting operation by the links [3 arcuate slots of Pin 22 is rendered der H, as well as the seat structure B, serves as a stop for the downward movement of cushion D The structure described is effective with a cushion which has heretofore been regarded as of its loose position upon a seat base. The new structure provides the necessary rigidity and guide structure, while at the same time providing the neothe spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1.. In a seat structure, a cushion carried thereby, a back equipped with a plate having a plurality of spaced recesses therein, said plate having an upper shoulder and lower shoulder, a

et, a spring member normally urging said pivoted latch member toward said recesses, said latch member being provided with a recess, adapted to be engaged by said spring to latch the same in inoperative position when said latch member enga es the upper shoulder of said plate and be- KENNETH K. HORNER. LAURENCE W. HILTMAN.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

